Liverpool High School

Liverpool, New York

FIRM

CLIENT

Liverpool Central School District

AREA

61,500 sq.ft.

TOTAL COST

$4,800,000.00

COMPLETION DATE

3/2000

The industrial-arts department at Liverpool High School was typical of an aging facility: large metal, woodworking and automotive shops with aged tools and equipment, and very little modern technology. Administrators wanted a facility that would offer a forward-looking program, and spaces to reflect this vision.

The area, sunken from the surrounding part of ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCOST PER SQ FT$70.00FEATURED IN2002 Educational InteriorsINTERIOR CATEGORYInterior Renovation building, was gutted. An entrance was defined at intersecting corridors: a small lobby with steps, a ramp and a display area that also can be seen from the adjacent corridor. Through a sliding window, a teacher from an adjoining classroom can serve as a director/receptionist to any visitor. A serpentine corridor weaves through, providing access to six teaching spaces where there once were only three. Glass-block panels maintain fire ratings, but provide light and visible activity while blurring details so privacy is maintained.

Each classroom is designed for a particular phase of the design process, beginning with a design studio and ending with a production shop. All are computerized, although some tools remain. A central air-handling unit was installed in the ceiling space of a storage room. Cabling runs above ceilings and drops down through custom “power columns.” A portable dust-collection system is used in the production or development spaces as needed.